Thinking of purchasing your next magazine subscription through eBay? I'm going to help you make an informed decision and provide some helpful tips on your subscription purchase.Common Questions:What is the difference between a subscription ordered straight from the publishers and ones found on eBay?There are no differences between the subscriptions ordered from a subscription agent on eBay and subscriptions ordered from the publisher. All issues are brand new straight from the publishers distribution centers.I see some of these subscriptions on eBay going for just a few dollars, how can these orders be fulfilled at such low prices?Most publishers make most of their revenue from the advertising within the magazines that other companies pay for. The more consumers the magazine reaches the more money they can charge for these advertisements. It may appear that subscription agents must get their magazines for free when the fixed prices are so low, however most subscriptions do at least have a small to substantial cost to fulfill. Once upon a time prices for subscriptions on eBay were approximately 70-100% higher then they are now however the increase in competition has drove these numbers down to where they are today.How long will it take for my subscription to start arriving?This question is probably the most frequently asked. Many factors come in to play when determining length of time for the first issue to arrive. Some publishers are quick to process orders and others take a bit longer. Another huge factor is whether the subscription is a weekly, monthly, bimonthly, quarterly or a seasonal publication. Weekly and monthly publications generally take between 5-12 weeks to start arriving, where as bimonthly, quarterly or seasonal publications may take between 8-15 weeks for your first issue to arrive. It is rare for any publication to take longer then 15 weeks and most start within the 5-12.I see many subscriptions going for 3, 4 and even 5 year terms on certain magazines. I am not sure where I will be that far down the road, is there a way to change my address?You can change your address online or over the phone with the publishers. You may also be able to contact the seller to get this changed or at least be given a place to contact to get the necessary changes made.I see many multiple year subscriptions being offered on eBay, however the subscription that catches my eye is only being offered as a 1 year, can I place an order for 3 of these and combine the term to make it into a 3 year subscription?Unfortunately this is not normally possible. Many publications are not available for more then 1 year purchases and to place an order for 3 just means you will receive 3 different copies. If you are lucky the merchant may be able to clear a greater term then the 1 year he was originally offering and maybe able to work with you however contact the seller if you want to know if this is possible otherwise you may regret it later.I have a 4 year subscription however at these prices I can afford to add another 4 years onto what I have. Is this possible?Many publishers will not allow more then 4 year terms at any given point in time. This mean you may want to contact the seller before placing your order as it maybe returned due to excessive renewals. Tips on making magazine purchases on eBay:Reviewing the sellers feedback is probably the most obvious but is also very important. You may see a seller with over 10,000 positive feedbacks but with over 80 negatives selling for a dollar cheaper then everyone else where as you may see a seller with 1,000 feedback with 0 negative feedbacks for a dollar more. I would not disregard either based on this fact alone however it definitely something to review prior to placing your order. Also, how does the seller present himself if and when he leaves negative feedbacks. Often you may find that due to fact magazines take longer then many other purchases found on eBay, a buyer may leave a negative feedback a bit prematurely and without prior contact with the seller. Does the seller respond unprofessionally by leaving a negative feedback insulting the customers integrity and intelligence for not reading the auction terms. Or does they appear to be yelling at the customer by TYPING IN ALL CAPS WITH MULTIPLE "!!!!!" following? This may show a bit of the sellers personality which maybe important for determining if they are someone you want to deal with.If renewing a current subscription, make sure the seller offers renewals on that publication. Many publications charge the seller a much higher price for renewals or may not offer the option at all, therefore some sellers may not offer the option of renewal for the price listed within the auction. Check the listing and make sure it states the publication allows for renewals otherwise check with the seller before bidding to avoid receiving duplicate issues due to being submitted as a new order.Patience is a virtue. The arrival time for subscriptions at times may seem completely unnecessary however there is very little a seller can do to speed this process up as the publishers mailings are pre-printed sometimes months in advance which means you maybe placed in their print queue.Read the auction terms and any FAQs before placing a bid. Most of us do this before we purchase anything on eBay, however you maybe surprised by the number of people who don't. This helps both the buyer and the seller stay on the same page throughout the transaction.Do not leave negative feedbacks prior to contacting your seller. If there are any problems with your order, contact your seller and see about getting this fixed prior to leaving a feedback. Most sellers value your business and will do what they are able in order to ensure your satisfaction. Leaving a negative will not solve your issue if are not communicating with your merchant.Does the seller charge shipping? If you live in the United States there is no charge for shipping, however you may notice some sellers choose to charge $4.00-$10.00 for shipping/handling. Make sure to compare the overall cost including this charge before making your decision. You may see some subscriptions selling for .01 cent, however with a $10.00 shipping/handling fee where as another seller may charge $6.00 for the same subscription with free shipping.Does the seller have a Privacy Policy? Most merchants will
have this information listed on their own FAQs or within their auctions
terms however make sure to ask those who don't. Publishers on the
other hand may automatically start sending you their own mailings after
you are on their mailing list for their publications. This is normal
and has absolutely nothing to do with your merchant selling your
information to a third party.Continue to order from sellers who treat you right. If a seller has been pleasant and helpful to deal with from the beginning keep giving them your business.If you have a question that has not been answered here and you would like to see it added, please contact me directly as I am happy to be of assistance.Please vote yes if you found this guide helpful. Thank you for visiting!
Orignal From: TIPS ON BUYING MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS ON EBAY
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